Photographic contact printer apparatus



PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2.

FIGJ.

INVENTOR Frank S.Siok

ATT RNEY March 1, 1966 F. s. SIOK PHOTOGBAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1964 FIG .3.

INVENTOR Frank 8. Sick BY 9% ATTO NEY March 1, 1966 PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9, 1964 F. S. SIOK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RHEOSTAT 22 59 20b all |"1 ,RELAY as F GE r 1 fi' QZ II J EXPOSURE s TIMER s6 A.S.A b I INVENTOR Frank 8. Sick ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,237,736 PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER APPARATUS Frank S. Siok, 2935 N. Harding Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Jan. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 336,658 4 Claims. (Cl. 192-67) The present invention relates generally to the photographic art, and, more particularly, toan improvement in a photographic contact printer which provides for selective automatic or semi-automatic operation.

Photographic contact printer apparatuses have been known in this art using motor-driven timing mechanisms for raising and lowering the platen. Such mechanisms have been difficult to repair and to adjust and frequently the automatic or semi-automatic mechanism was permanently mounted into the machine so that it was impossible to remove it for ease of repair or adjustment. 'These machines have not been very reliable and in many cases when they break down the operator must call a Serviceman to repair them since they are rather complicated and can not be repaired by the operator himself. In many instances the operator is left without a printer to use until the serviceman arrives and repairs the machine. Frequently this waiting period is long and the down time of the machine results in a loss of money to the operator. Accordingly, some operators keep a second printer on hand for such emergencies and it is rather costly to have two printers on hand when actually one is all that is needed for the amount of work which may be performed in the studio. Furthermore, the cost of such repairs on automatic printers is quite high.

With these defects of the prior art in mind, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an improvement in automatic-semiautomatic contact printers which is very reliable in operation and sturdy in construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is simple to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvement in printers which is structurally simple so that the operator himself can make any repairs which are needed.

Still another object is to provide an improvement in printers of the character described wherein the control and drive mechanism is mounted as a unit for easy removal from the machine for ease of repair or replacement.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improvement in printer devices wherein the device may be used either automatically or semi-automatically and switched from one to the other in a rather simple manner.

These objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention wherein the printer device is provided with the usual platen which moves up and down as well as with an exposure box which contains suitable lights for exposing the negatives. The entire control mechanism is mounted as a unit on slides within the machine so that it can be slidingly removed from the machine housing with merely the necessity for disconnecting the connection between the control assembly and the platen and for unfastening the means which secure the control unit to the machine frame.

The control unit includes a crank or counter-balance arm which is connected through suitable means to the platen so that as the arm rotates it moves the platen up and down. This arm is fixed to a shaft which is connected to one side of a one-half a revolution clutch. The other side of this one-half a revolution clutch is mounted to a motor shaft and is placed into continuous rotation. Thus, when desired, the clutch is engaged and one half a turn is made to either raise the platen or to lower it. Then, after a suitable period of time the clutch is again engaged and another one-half turn is made so as to lower or raise the platen, respectively.

The half-revolution clutch includes a constantly rotating drive wheel having a plurality of openings formed in the clutch-facing surface thereof. Fixedly mounted to the shaft on which the crank arm is mounted is a locking pin wheel in which a locking pin is slidably mounted and spring means urges this locking pin out of engagement with the drive wheel. The locking pin is normally disposed in a stationary locking pin plate and the spring means biasses the pin into this plate which is provided with two openings on the clutch-facing surface thereof and which are apart. A locking pin arm having two projections which extend toward the openings in the locking pin plate is pivotally mounted so that when actuated the pins thereof engage the openings and push the locking pin against its spring means out of the openings of the locking pin plate and toward the openings in the locking pin wheel. When the locking pin engages one of the openings of the drive wheel, the locking pin wheel is then, by means of the locking pin, connected to the drive wheel so that the clutch is engaged and rotation takes place. The spring means of the locking pin urges the locking pin out of engagement with the drive wheel but since the end of the locking pin engages a solid surface engagement continues until the locking pin arrives at the point where the second opening is provided in the locking pin plate which is 180 spaced from the first opening. At this point the spring means disengages the locking pin and the clutch has thus made one half a revolution.

A suitable control circuit is provided which includes timers for timing the amount of time that the platen is down and also the amount of time that the platen is up as well as the exposure time and various relays which provide for both automatic and semi-automatic operation.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse sectional view taken through the device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal view, partially in section, of the control device comprising the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the control and drive device illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a left side view of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 6-6 of FIGURE "4.

FIGURE 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating the control circuit for the present invention.

With more particular reference to the drawings, a housing 10 is provided in which an exposure box 12 is located, and directly above the exposure box is a platen assembly 14. The platen assembly is controlled by means of a control and drive unit 16 which is mounted at the bottom of housing 10. The housing is of rectangular shape and may be supported directly upon a floor. It includes a front wall 11, a rear wall 13, and a top 15. A control panel 17 projects upwardly from above the rear wall 13 and to one side of the platen apparatus 14 as shown more particularly in FIGURE 2. The front wall 11 is provided with an opening 18 in which a sliding door 19 is fitted so that the door may be opened for access to the control unit 16.

The top is rovided with a clear glass or a ground glass plate disposed directly above the exposure box 12 in order to support the negative and the sensitized paper. Disposed directly below the glass plate and at the bottom of exposure box 12 is a light source 20. This light source may include a bank of dodging lamps 2011 which may be controlled by a bank of dodging rheostats 21 mounted on the control panel 17 A main rheostat 22 for controlling these lamps is also mounted on the control panel. A safety light b and a viewing light 200 are also included in the bank of lights. Also mounted on the control panel 17 is a platen timer 23 and an exposure timer 24, the functions of which will be described in further detail below.

The negative and sensitized paper are pressed against the glass plate by means of a flexible platen 25 which is a part of the platen assembly 14. This is a flexible platen which may be hinged to the top 15 at the rear end thereof and may comprise resilient strips connected by spaced bars and carrying a sponge rubber pad 28. A platen pulley 29 is mounted above the rearward portion of the top 15 on brackets 29a. A rope or wire 30 is connected to the front end of platen 25, passes over pulley 29 and then downwardly through an opening provided in the rearward end of top 15 and between aligning rollers 30a and then downwardly and is at the bottom end thereof connected to the control unit 16.

A plurality of horizontal slides 40 are mounted within the exposure box 12 and each of these carries a filter or screen. The slides are individually shiftable longitudinally of the casing to bring the filters into or out of vertical alignment with the light source 20 and the glass plate. or other substantially rigid material having an opening in or over which is suitably fastened the filter or screen. The filter slides 40 are selectively operated by a single rotatable operating element 39 which is shiftable to coact with any one of a number of rack and pinion actuating mechanisms for moving the slides. All of this and the above-mentioned structure is similar to the structure which is disclosed in my US. Patent No. 2,721,507.

With more particular reference now to the details of the control unit 16, it should be noted that this unit is mounted upon a rigid base plate 34. This base plate 34 has slide members in the form of angle irons 31 mounted thereto with the flanges depending downwardly therefrom. These angle irons are themselves mounted onto U-shaped channel members 32 which are connected to the frame of the housing 10. Nut and bolt arrangements 33 are used to secure the base plate 34 and angle irons 31 to the channel or U-shaped members 32 for rigidly securing the control unit 16 in place. However, it is evident that removing the nut and bolt arrangements 33 will allow the control unit 16 to be slid along the channel members 32 for easy removal thereof through the opening 18 provided in front wall 11 of housing 10.

A motor 35 is mounted to base 34 and a motor shaft 36 is rotated thereby. A drive wheel 37 is connected to motor shaft 36 and rotates therewith. A plurality of openings 38 are formed through drive wheel 37 and these openings are arranged in circular fashion as may be seen from FIGURE 5. The side of drive wheel 37 opposite the motor shaft 36 is provided with an opening in which a bearing 41 is provided. A driven or clutch shaft 42 has one end thereof disposed in bearing 41 so that the clutch shaft 42 may rotate independently of drive Wheel 37. Near the other end of the clutch shaft is a bearing 43 mounted in a bearing support 44 so that the clutch shaft 42 is rotatably mounted. It may be noted that clutch shaft 42 is constructed in two sections which are held together by a splicing sleeve 46 which covers the adjoining or abutting ends of the sleeves and which includes set screws 47 which may be tightened down to hold the Each slide may be a rectangular sheet of metal shafts rigidly together. If desired, flats may be provided on the portions of the shaft sections which underlie the set screws 47 to assure that there will be proper and rigid locking together of the shaft sections.

A locking pin wheel 48 is fixedly mounted to clutch shaft 42 for rotation therewith. This locking pin wheel is provided with an opening 48a therethrough in which an elongate locking pin 49 is disposed. This locking pin is solid throughout most of its length except for the end thereof which faces away from motor 35. This end is hollow and a ball or ball bearing 50 is rotatably seated therein. A spring 51 constantly biasses the locking pin 49 away from the drive wheel 37. This is accomplished by having one end of spring 51 engage the locking pin wheel 48 and the other end of this spring engaging a collar 51a fixed to the locking pin 49 so that the compression of the spring will bias it away from drive wheel 37.

A locking pin plate 52 is disposed on the ball side of the locking pin 49 and is provided with openings 53 and 54 which are horizontally aligned and spaced 180 apart one on each side of the clutch shaft 42. A bearing 55 is provided within this plate and this bearing also supports the clutch shaft 42 for rotation therein. A locking pin arm 56 provided with spaced and projecting release pins 57 is pivotally mounted at its lower end to a bracket 58 which is secured to the base plate 34. The release pins 57 are so positioned that when the locking pin arm 56 is moved forwardly toward the locking pin, these release pins engage in the holes 53 and 54 and assure that the locking pin will be removed from the locking pin plate and pushed into one of the openings 38 in the drive wheel 37.

A solenoid 59 is positioned to engage the arm 56 when the arm is in its retracted position and when the solenoid is not actuated, as shown in FIGURE 4. Solenoid 59 is supported on a mounting plate 60 and a return spring 61, which is a tension spring, is connected between the arm 56 and the supporting plate 60, so as to bias arm 56 into its retracted position, as shown in FIGURE 4.

With more particular reference now to FIGURE 7, the control circuit of the present invention is shown. The terminals A and C may be connected to a standard 110 volt A.C. 60-cycle source. The motor 35 is connected across these terminals and the motor is energized for constant rotation when the main switch 62 is manually closed. The above-mentioned safety and viewing lamps 20b and 200, respectively, are shown connected across these terminals by switches 64 and 63, respectively, which may be manually actuated to light these lamps. The solenoid 59 which is used to cause movement of arm 56 to, in turn, move the locking pin for engaging the clutch is also connected across the terminals A and C by means of a contact R1 which is controlled by a holding relay 65.

A conventional exposure timer 24 is provided having a first pair of terminals connected across the power lines A and C, a second pair of terminals connected with opposite contacts of microswitch 66, a third pair of terminals connected with the network including a seriesconnected main rheostat 22, and a plurality of parallel branches each including a rheostat 21 connected in series with a lamp 20a, and a fourth pair of contacts connected with opposite ends of the coil of relay 65.

Similarly, a conventional platen timer 23 is provided having a first pair of terminals connected across power lines A and C, a second pair of terminals connected in series with microswitch 67 and the switch contacts 70 of an automatic-semiautomatic switch, and a third pair of terminals also connected with opposite ends of the coil of relay 65. Connected in parallel across junctions J and K of the conductor connecting the lower one of said third pair of terminals with one end of the relay coil is a series branch including a relay restoring microswitch 68, a manual platen timer switch 69, and the contacts 71 of the automatic-semiautomatic switch.

In connection with the electric control circuit for the control unit of the present invention, it should be noted that the locking pin wheel 48 is provided with a plurality of switch actuating wedges or cams 76, 77, and 78 and as may be seen from FIGURES 4 and 5, there are three of these, two of which, namely 76 and 77, are located on the forward circumferential portion of this wheel and the third of which, namely 78, is connected to the rearward circumferential portion of the wheel. A microswitch support 72 is provided on which the plurality of microswitches 66, 67, and 68, are mounted. The two microswitches 66 and 67 are in alignment with the path of cam 78 whereas the third microswitch 68 is aligned with the paths of cams 76 and 77.

Assuming that automatic operation of the device is desired, then the switch ASA must be moved from the position shown in FIGURE 7 toward the left so that the contact 71 is open and the contact 70 is closed. At the beginning of operation motor switch 62 is closed and the platen timer microswitch 67 is closed because the cam 78 is in engagement with this microswitch. In this position crank arm 45 points downwardly and the platen is up. At this time the platen timer 23 begins operation and duringthis time a negative and a sheet of sensitized paper can be inserted since the platen is maintained in its upper position. After, a period of time, which may be set by adjusting the platen timer 23, the platen timer stops and in so stopping energizes relay 65 which closes contact R1 and energizes solenoid 59.

The energizing of solenoid 59 pushes arm 56, toward the left as viewed in FIGURE 4 which causes release pin 57 to move the locking pin 49 out of the opening in locking pin plate 52 and into engagement with one of the openings 38 in drive wheel 37. Thus, the clutch is engaged and the locking pin wheel 48 begins to rotate as does shaft 42 and crank 45 which, through rope 30 which had held the platen 25 in its upper position, causes the platen to begin lowering.

The cam 76 then hits microswitch 68 and relay 65 is released and thus solenoid 59 is de-energized. After onehalf a turn the locking pin engages the other opening in plate 52 and the locking pin returns to the locking pin plate because of the bias of spring 51 so that the clutch is disengaged. The cam 78 then contacts microswitch 66 for the exposure timer and the exposure timing begins. After exposure for a suitable amount of time, which can be adjusted, the exposure timer stops and relay 65 which is connected to the exposure timer is energized by means of the exposure timer and thus contact R1 again closes and the solenoid 59 is again energized. As mentioned before, when the locking pin moves, the clutch is engaged and the wheel begins to rotate in the direction of arrow Z to begin raising movement of the platen 25.

Cam 77 then hits microswitch 68 and the relay 65 is released which releases the solenoid. After one half of a turn of the locking pin wheel 48, the locking pin returns to the locking pin plate and the clutch is then disengaged. At this time, the cam 78 hits the microswitch 67 and this starts the platen timer. This action continues until the device is shutoff.

When the device is to be actuated semi-automatically, the switch ASA is moved into the position shown in FIG- URE 7. When switch 62 is closed the motor 35 begins rotating continuously as does the motor wheel or drive wheel 37. It is assumed that the platen is in its upward position at this point and so after the negative and the sensitized paper are placed onto the clear glass above the exposure box 12, the manual platen timer switch 69 is closed so that the platen timer starts and the platen is maintained in its upper position. When the platen timer stops, this timer energizes relay 65 to energize the solenoid and thus cause engagement of the clutch. The

action described above in connection with automatic operation then continues so that the exposure timer then comes into operation and controls the entire time of exposure at which time the platen is automatically raised so that the negative and the exposed sensitized paper can be removed. However, in this mode of operation it should be noted that the platen timer microswitch 67 is not operative and since the manual platen timer switch 69 is opened immediately upon its release, when the platen is again moved to its uppermost position the clutch is disengaged and further actuation of the device ceases until the switch 69 should again be closed.

It should be noted that a mechanical relay step type impulse ratchet relay can be used for the relay 65 so that although the manual switch 69 is closed only momentarily the relay 65 will remain energized. Also, motor 35 may be a horsepower 30 r.p.m. motor.

Thus, an apparatus is provided which can be used for production printing in which case the automatic mode would be used. If the operator has only a few prints to make, he may choose to run the apparatus in its semiautomaic mode. It should be noted that this relay 65 is a standard mechanical release relay which operates with the microswitch 68. The platen timer and the exposure timer can be model No. P-59 manufactured by Time-O- Lite Corporation. It should be noted that in the event a repair is necessary, the device is sufliciently simple that an operator may repair it himself or the entire control unit 16 may be removed and repaired while removed or in fact another unit may be used to replace the defective one. It should be clear that releasing the set screw 47 which engages the clutch shaft 42 and releasing the nut and bolt arrangements 33 will completely disconnect the control unit 16 from the device so that the unit may be slid out of the housing. Thus, the entire unit can be removed from the printer in just a few minutes and can be shipped very easily if need be for major services.

The positive acting locking pin provides for reliable operation and the ball bearing construction on the end of the locking pin eliminates wear and tear on the locking pin and on the locking pin plate. All of the disks and shafts and other parts of the entire unit can be constructed of heavy steel so as to eliminate breakdowns and reduce the cost of repairs. Also, all of the parts used including microswitches, the solenoids, the relay and even the motor are standard parts which can be purchased in any local shops handling this type of merchandise so that the operator can conveniently obtain spare parts.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clutch for driving a shaft a predetermined portion of a revolution, comprising, in combination:

a rotatable drive wheel having a plurality of openings formed in one side surface thereof in a circular arrangement;

a rotatable locking pin wheel facing said drive wheel;

a locking pin mounted for axial movement in said locking pin wheel to project a sufficient distance therefrom to engage one of the openings in said drive wheel;

a stationary locking pin plate having openings therein which are disposed in alignment with the path of movement of said locking pin;

spring means for biassing said locking pin toward said locking pin plate so that the locking pin is normally engaged in one of the openings in said locking pin plate;

means for moving said locking pin out of engagement with said plate and into engagement with said drive wheel; and

means for actuating said releasing means to move the locking pin out of the particular opening in which it is engaged and into engagement with one of the openings in said drive wheel so that the locking pin wheel is rotated with said drive wheel until the locking pin comes into alignment with the other opening in the locking pin plate into which it is biassed by the spring means thus disengaging it from the drive wheel.

2. A one half a revolution clutch comprising, in combination:

a drive shaft having a drive wheel thereon which has a plurality of openings formed in one side surface thereof in a circular arrangement;

a driven shaft coaxial with said drive shaft and mounted for rotation;

a locking pin wheel fixed on said driven shaft and facing said drive wheel;

a locking pin rotatable with said locking pin wheel and mounted for axial movement in said locking pin wheel to project a sufiicient distance therefrom to engage one of the openings in said drive wheel;

a stationary locking pin plate having a pair of 180 spaced openings therein disposed in alignment with the path of movement of said locking pin;

spring means for biassing said locking pin toward said locking pin plate so that the locking pin is normally engaged in one of the openings in said locking pin plate;

means for moving said locking pin out of engagement with said plate and into engagement with said drive wheel; and

means for actuating said releasing means to move the locking pin out of the particular opening in said plate in which it is engaged and into engagement with one of the openings in said drive wheel so that the locking pin wheel and thus the driven shaft is rotated with said drive shaft until the locking pin comes into alignment with the other opening in the locking pin plate into which it is biassed by the spring means thus disengaging it from the drive wheel.

3. A one half a revolution clutch device comprising, in

combination:

a drive shaft having a drive Wheel thereon which has a plurality of openings formed in one side surface thereof in a circular arrangement;

a driven shaft coaxial with said drive shaft and mounted for rotation and having one end thereof rotatably journalled in said drive wheel;

a locking pin wheel fixed on said driven shaft and facing said drive wheel;

a locking pin rotatable with said locking pin wheel and mounted for axial movement in said locking pin wheel to project a sufficient distance therefrom to engage one of the openings in said drive wheel;

a stationary locking pin plate in which said driven shaft is journalled and having a pair of openings therein in horizontal alignment with the driven shaft, said openings being disposed in alignment with the path of movement of said locking pin;

a spring for biassing said locking pin toward said locking pin plate so that the locking pin is normally engaged in one of the openings in said locking pin plate;

a locking pin release arm adjacent said plate and on the opposite side thereof from said locking pin wheel, said arm having release pins disposed in alignment with the openings in said locking pin plate; and

means for moving said locking pin releasearm to move said release pins toward and into the openings in said locking pin plate to force the locking pin out of the particular opening in said plate in which it is engaged and into engagement with one of the openings in said drive wheel so that the locking pin wheel and thus the driven shaft is rotated with said drive shaft until the locking pin comes into alignment with the other opening in the locking pin plate into which it is biassed by the spring thus disengaging it from the drive wheel.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 comprising a motor for driving said drive shaft, and a single base plate on which all of said elements are mounted whereby a single unit is formed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,994 8/1922 McCullough 19225 1,885,055 10/1932 Barber -73 2,602,898 7/ 1952 Inghram. 2,651,244 9/1953 Furguson 95-73 JULIA E. COINER, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner. 

1. A CLUTCH FOR DRIVING A SHAFT A PREDETERMINED PORTION OF A REVOLUTION, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A ROTATABLE DRIVE WHEEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS FORMED IN ONE SIDE SURFACE THEREOF IN A CIRCULAR ARRANGEMENT; A ROTATABLE LOCKING PIN WHEEL FACING SAID DRIVE WHEEL; A LOCKING PIN MOUNTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT IN SAID LOCKING PIN WHEEL TO PROJECT A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE THEREFROM TO ENGAGE ONE OF THE OPENINGS IN SAID DRIVE WHEEL; A STATIONARY LOCKING PIN PLATE HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN WHICH ARE DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKING PIN; SPRING MEANS FOR BIASSING SAID LOCKING PIN TOWARD SAID LOCKING PIN PLATE SO THAT THE LOCKING PIN IS NORMALLY ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE OPENINGS IN SAID LOCKING PIN PLATE; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LOCKING PIN OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PLATE AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVE WHEEL; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID RELEASING MEANS TO MOVE THE LOCKING PIN OUT OF THE PARTICULAR OPENING IN WHICH IT IS ENGAGED AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE OPENINGS IN SAID DRIVE WHEEL SO THAT THE LOCKING PIN WHEEL IS ROTATED WITH SAID DRIVE WHEEL UNTIL THE LOCKING PIN COMES INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHER OPENING IN THE LOCKING PIN PLATE INTO WHICH IT IS BIASSED BY THE SPRING MEANS THUS DISENGAGING IT FROM THE DRIVE WHEEL. 